So, everybody knows about the Cristiano Ronaldo campaign for Armani. The Portuguese wears little clothing and everybody coos, even Florentino Perez. But what about when lesser known Jesus Datolo, a young Argentine of Boca Jrs fame and currently at Napoli, poses for a gay Italian magazine? Well, his club threatens to fine him for “injury to their image.” I have breaking news for Napoli – any individual can legally view or purchase a magazine regardless of said magazine’s intended audience. That creepy guy on the bus can glare all he wants at the CR9 short shorts centerfold.
Thus, this leaves two possibilities.
First – guilt by association, emphasis on the first three letters of association. Datolo is associated with Napoli, and because Romeo Mag is affiliated with gay Italians, the indirect linkage irretrievably smears Napoli’s good name. What’s next, a Datolo fundraiser for homes along the underground railroad? Or even worse, a speech in favor of women suffrage? Somebody put a pair of pants on this footballer and lock him in a hotel room closet!
Second – possibly, the Napoli CEO is friends with Bromeo Mag, the rival queer publication to Romeo Mag. Thus, Datolo’s transgressions has damaged the blossoming corporate bromance between Napoli and Bromeo Mag, so the fine is the equivalent of damages for lost revenue.
Either way, good for Datolo, bad for Napoli, great for those who want to dismantle gender identity barriers the world over.
Just as women burned bras in the sixties, the time has come for men the world over to unite and take off the oppressive shackles of baggy pants and boxer briefs. Only when we examine our own solidarity with one another in the shape of shape fitting shorts which could squeeze a dime out of a dollar, will we realize and appreciate…
No related posts.
Poor guy (Datolo).
When’s Terry going to come out?
Not in any way to suggest that Aurelio de Laurentiis isn’t an irritating blowhard (he is), or that the real issue here isn’t the fact that it’s a gay magazine (it is), but my understanding of de Laurentiis’ threat of a fine is that he’s cleverly couched it in criticism of the picture in the magazine in which mostly!naked Datolo has a Napoli kit draped over his shoulder — that’s the bit he claims is at issue, not the sexual orientation of the magazine’s readers.
And, also, Bromeo is really having trouble this year.
Ryan-
when he’s ready.
Martha-
I apologize for not investigating a bit deeper, but the only image I encountered featured the typical underwear model pose with no Napoli jersey over the shoulder. Regardless, magazines cannot control the sexual orientation of readers – a gay man can purchase a “straight targeted mag” and a straight man can read a “queer targeted ‘zine.” In fact, one of those “types”, you know, “college graduates with a liberal arts degree”, could be reading this very post. Cease and Desist you Pervert!
But seriously, in sadder news, an only slightly more credibly news source indicates that Datolo appears headed for Greek club Olimpiacos. The pretext is more playing time to compete for a space in Argentina’s squad, but the reality? Well….
No need to apologize, I agree with you entirely on the issue! And, as an aside, I’ve long suspected that there are a lot of teams semi-consciously working to appeal to gay audiences, though of course they wouldn’t dare say it out loud. Surely the teams that offer online access to postgame locker rooms (etc) know how often that material is capped and gleefully distributed across the dreaded Gay Corners of the Interwebs.
It looks like the move to Greece is done — de Laurentiis must feel much safer now. (And here’s the not-remotely-risque picture with the Napoli kit, just to be complete about it all.)
Marta-
great research! I was more worried about creating a double standard: a few weeks back, I did a post and some preliminary research on the FC Naquera ladies calendar but only scraped the surface, so doing more research on a male themed image would violate my strict journalistic integrity principles.
Not to subtly, Beckham has courted the queer audience wallets like a US Democratic Party Presidential Candidate, and the profits speak for themselves.
I also am working on a Latin – Anglo Saxon cultural post on footy, the “male as object” concept, and feminism in the 21st century. Expect to be either offended, laugh really hard, or hopefully both.
Saudades
Uggh, MartHa. Curse these keyboards – why can’t I find a decent 19th century typewriter or 80 year old stenographer in these here parts!